1.2. Biomass categorization
Biomass can be categorized broadly as woody, non-woody and animal wastes. Woody
biomass comprises forests, agro-industrial plantations, bush trees, urban trees and farm
trees. Woody biomass is generally a high-valued commodity and has diverse uses such as
timber, raw material for pulp and paper, pencil and matchstick industries and cooking
fuel. Non-woody biomass comprises crop residues like straw, leaves and plant stems,
processing residues like saw dust, bagasse, nutshells and husks and domestic wastes (food,
rubbish and sewage). Animal waste constitutes the waste from animal husbandry [1].